Friday, March 12, 2010

celebrating answers




Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. - Luke 18:1 NIV

This week has been parable. Interactions with stories, drawn deep from the souls around my life. Stories of heartaches, of families collapsing, of grievous sin destroying its victims. Stories of deep healing, of sweet redemption, of miracles only explained through the cross.

Comcast has been having issues, so the Internet has been down here. Here's a quick re-cap of the beautiful week, in reverse, because that's the way my mind works. Jesus uses these stories to show us that we should always pray and not give up:

  • God healed the Internet approximately 45 minutes ago. Sounds stupid, but this summer in Barahona convinced me that laying hands on a router is the best solution to most IT problems. My solutions would involve swearing (but I don't know good enough cuss words) or calling my friend Josh who works for Dell. God's solution involves waiting, surrendering control, trusting Him, and ultimately having an awesome time to bless my roommate's bedroom (the router location) with prayer. I almost feel like this miracle is negligible compared to the rest of this week. But I desire God to get the credit for fixing our cable, especially because it's been out for 3 days. Praise God who cares enough to grow our hearts. (Ps 120:1)
  • One beloved sister shared with me this evening how she had been praying for workers to man the harvest in the prisons of Mazatlan, Mexico. Ever faithful, Jesus is sending her. What beautifully simple irony to follow Christ! May God bless Trina as she is sent out, an answer to her own prayers and the prayers of many others who care deeply for the people of Mazatlan. Praise our God who sends workers! (Luke 10:2)
  • This week has been PACKED with heartache and heartbreak in the lives of students. Just this week, five different students have opened up about the painful, messy divorces that are tearing their families apart. It is an honor to be invited into their hearts. I know that God is battling for them, as the pain of sin threatens to steal their joy. (Stay away, Satan, these kids belong to Jesus! And He has won!) Praise our God, a Father to the fatherless, who sets the lonely in families. (Ps 68:5&6)
  • Wednesday night at youth, a student shared how the trail of another's sin could leave a messy legacy in their life. Hearing the student's story shattered my heart. It made me so angry, that sin is allowed to infect earth. Pray for wisdom. Pray for the student and their family. God never gives up and no problem is to big for Him to handle. Praise our God who makes ALL things possible. (Phil 4:13)
  • After our youth gathering on Wednesday, two fellow pastors joined me at Ridgetop to pray over my classroom. Worship music blared from the little speakers at my computer. Together in God's presence, we prayed over the students (and families) represented in Room 122. My brother Richard sat where my students sit, to intercede for their lives, their salvation. My brother Eric anointed the desks, the walls, and me with oil, consecrating this mission as holy to God. There's an oil stain of a cross, now, next to the clock on my classroom wall. A simple, beautiful reminder that Christ has already paid for the life of each student who enters this sanctuary. Praise the Savior who invites us to feast in the presence of our enemies. (Ps 23:5)
  • Monday night, the same brother prayed over me to heal the lingering cough I've had for four weeks. Well, at first he made fun of me for coughing like a dog and talking like a smoker as we were walking on the street. Then, after hearing more of the backstory behind the sickness that was sapping both my strength and motivation, we stopped on the side walk and he prayed for healing. It was weird, because I'm fine with praying healing over others but uncomfortable asking God to heal me. Still, God never gives up. He cast out the cough around 11:00pm on Monday night. There was such sweet victory to spit out the last phlegm, flush it down the toilet and claim the power of Christ! Praise the God who heals. (Matt 4:23)
  • And in the staff room during lunch on Monday I got to talk about Jesus with my co-workers. Praise the God who opens doors! (Col 4:3)
  • Sunday night, a sister shared how she suffered migraine headaches when people began talking earnestly about God. In the name of Jesus, we commanded the headache to leave her. It got worse. But Jesus didn't tell us to stop. Laying hands on her, claiming the promises of Scripture, we prayed with confidence that God would heal her, that the headache would leave. Of course you know what happened. Sheree's headache left because it knew Jesus would win. (Rom 8:38&39)
  • And God has sent friends to share life with. Michelle. Shannon. Erin. Kendra. Women in love with God. Praise God for the body, the Bride of Christ. (Eph 5:30)
  • There's just too much to celebrate! God has been encouraging and overwhelming my heart this week. He has sent people from every walk of life to speak Truth, to share Scripture, to reach out a hand and pray for growth. More than being content in Kitsap, God has restructured my heart and filled it with passion. For 18 months, I've prayed to be content, but God in His faithful wisdom has made me passionate. Praise Him!(Isaiah 55:9)
I'm pretty sure that there will be stretch marks on my heart from this week.

Thank you, Father, for allowing these glimpses of Your heart. For using story, parables, to show Truth. Continue teaching me how to love, Jesus, like You do. Help me listen. Help me rest. Help me worship. You are beautiful, God. Lead me in Your perfect way, Spirit.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. - Luke 18:1 NIV

2 comments:

  1. Pom PomMarch 13, 2010 at 6:15 AM

    Wow. I'm moved to tears and hugely encouraged by His mighty ways. I love how you prayed in your classroom, with oil. I'm heading in today and I'm going to pray first - touch each desk and use my lamp oil to make a cross. I love partnering with you, my dear.

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  2. AndreaMarch 14, 2010 at 3:58 PM

    Hello, friend! I am visiting after spending a few moments with Pom Pom. And I have greatly enjoyed my time with you.

    My husband (who is a pastor) anointed my classroom for me when I was teaching. It gave me such comfort, and I know through that prayer and dedication, the lives of many students were touched.

    To now look up and see the imprint of an "oil cross" will be an encouragement to you and a reminder of the unseen work of the Holy Spirit that is going on in the lives of your students. Praise God!

    Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart and life of faith! Jesus reigns!!!

    Much love,

    Andrea

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Ephesians 5

Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:

“Awake, O sleeper!

Rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you!”

Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

hey guys